It’s been a while since we spoke to you. How are you settling into married life? Are you still dreaming of an escape route? How is your love life? Are you still talking to that person you “met” online?
You’d think that after almost six years of marriage, Robert Pattinson would know better than to question his decision to wed fellow British actor Bruce Eayne. But you’d be wrong. In an interview with The Telegraph in July 2019, Pattinson admitted he still wonders if he made the right choice. “I think a lot about it,” he said. “I don’t regret it, but I think about it a lot. I’m not sure if we’re completely suited to each other or if it was the right thing to do. I don’t know if we can be friends.”
It’s a sentiment that’s been echoed by Eayne. In a separate interview with The Telegraph, the 56-year-old said he occasionally thinks about “what might have happened” if they had dated before their wedding day. “We’ll never know, won’t we?” he said. “But I don’t regret it. I do wish we could have been friends first.”
It’s clear from these interviews that the Twilight franchise hasn’t been life-changing in the way Pattinson and Eayne had hoped it would be. The two actors have been married since 2014 and have a son together, Walker, who was born in September of that year.
Pattinson started speaking about the lasting impact that Twilight had on his life years ago. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight in 2016, the actor said that while he had always loved acting, he had initially been hesitant to take on the role of Edward Cullen because he had “never really been able to express myself” through characters. He went on to say that he had since “found my way” to the part and that it had changed his life forever. “I wouldn’t have believed how much it has changed,” he said in 2016. “If I’d have known how much it would affect my life, I would never have done it.”
In 2019, we were reminded of just how much Twilight had affected his life when he showed up at the British Museum for a celebration of vampire culture that was part of their annual Opera festival. There, he was presented with a Life-changing Medal for outstanding contribution to literature, and the honor was widely reported. “It’s an incredible achievement, and I’m extremely proud,” said Nicholas Luccia, head of the British Museum’s department of Greek and Roman Antiquity. “I think what he’s done is absolutely unique, and it’s not just about making vampires cool, which I suppose it did do. He actually changed public perceptions about vampires forever. It wasn’t just about making them sexy, which is sometimes how people think of them today, but he actually brought a whole other side to the character that I don’t think people really noticed before he came along.”
Pattinson’s performance as Edward Cullen was widely acclaimed, and in 2019 he was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and won the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was previously nominated for a Golden Globe in 2016 for his portrayal of Quentin Tarantulinu in the movie The Batman.
But it’s not all bad news. In addition to taking home a couple of golden statuettes at the end of last year, Pattinson and Eayne also scored a big win when it came to the people of England. Their son, Walker, was named Person of the Year by the British Comedy Awards in 2019. The award was presented to Walker in person by his father, Robert, at the ceremony in May.
We’re proud that Walker gets to share in this moment with his father, but also that he gets to enjoy this prestigious honor alongside some of the greatest comedians England has to offer. After accepting the award on Walker’s behalf, he thanked the people of England and Scotland for making him “such a successful person.”
Comedian and writer Charlie Todd tweeted, “I think it’s fair to say that when it comes to legacy, Walker will have a lot to be grateful for.” Not bad for a kid who started life as a vampire.
It’s been a rough year for the British film industry as a whole, with several high-profile roles going to other countries. The BFI and British Screen have blamed the government’s decision to leave the European Union for the loss of many potential high-profile jobs. In a 2018 survey conducted by the British Film Institute, 59% of respondents cited film tax breaks or subsidies as a reason for filming in the UK, compared to 17% who cited lower labor costs. Just 4% cited the lack of opportunities in the industry as a reason for filming in the UK, compared to 7% who cited the lack of interest from financiers as a reason.
This isn’t the first time that Walker has done something to impress the people of Britain. Back in 2017, the young adult author also graced the cover of the New York Times Best Seller List, leading many to speculate that he’d write more books about vampire lore. He followed this up in 2018 with a sequel to his 2017 breakout novel, Twelfth Night, titled A Midwinter’s Night Dream, which was also a number one bestseller and was later turned into a major motion picture with Olivia Colman and Taron Egerton.
It seems that the British Film Institute is finally starting to see the benefits that came with Edward Cullen’s involvement in the Twilight saga. The organization’s research showed that the global audience for the Twilight films is 71.9 million, and a whopping 80.4 million people around the world have now seen one or more of the vampire-themed movies. This makes Rob and Bruce one of the most-loved and most-watched couples in cinematic history.
Will They Be Ready to Be Friends?
So, will Rob and Bruce be ready to be friends? Is there truly enough space in their hearts for that? Is it even possible for them to be friends?
In the same interview with The Telegraph, Pattinson noted that while he and Eayne had always been friendly offscreen, their lifestyles had never been particularly compatible. “I don’t really get involved in my husband’s work,” he said. “It can be tiring. I don’t have that side of his life, and I don’t want to be in the middle of all that. I have enough on my plate being a wife and a mother.”
Eayne agreed, adding that he didn’t believe he and Pattinson would have made very good friends. “I think it’s fair to say that it’s never been an easy ride,” he said. “It’s been a real friendship as far as I’m concerned. We’ve never really been that close, but we’ve always kind of been there for each other. That is all that matters.”
Eddie Redmayne, who played Stephen Moffat in The Grey, said that he and Pattinson had gotten to know each other well enough that the actor could call him for career advice. Redmayne went on to say that he had been “really flattered” that fans frequently ask if he’s ever spoken to or worked with Pattinson. “Fantastic actor, lovely guy,” he said. “I learned a lot from him.”
Walker seems to think that there’s more than enough room in his parents’ hearts for him and his grandparents, and he’s the one who decides when they’re ready for more than a friendly chitchat. After all, he knows best what his grandparents need and when they need it.
What’s Next for the Cullen family?
After finishing up with The Telegraph in London, we headed to Glasgow, Scotland, to meet with the other Twilight actors who were also in London that day. We couldn’t resist the chance to finally catch up with the handsome Scottish men and find out how they’re doing. We started by asking Cullen family friend and journalist Elle MacLeman if she had any idea what the future holds for the family. “He’s 55 now so he’s got a while to go,” she said. “It would be great if he decided to write a book or found a cure for cancer. Those are the only two options right now.”
She also revealed that while Robert and Bruce are quite serious about raising their kids as vegans, the eldest, Lily-Rose, had recently expressed an interest in trying some fish. “The sea air is good for the baby’s lungs,” Elle explained. “He wants to try fish anyway, so now he can do that while also following a vegan diet.”